Chapter 3: Dreamland (6)
Lin Xiao was already in the fifth grade of elementary school, which meant most kids her age would be a bit rebellious and wouldn’t be as close to their parents as they were when they were toddlers.
But Lin Xiao seemed to be an exception. Every day after school, the first thing she did was hunt down her dad. She insisted on being picked up and spun around in the study a few times before she would finally let him go.
Wang Xue, witnessing this scene over and over again, would just shake her head in resignation, “They say daughters love their daddies, but our little princess here must think you’re her lifelong beau!”
Lin Xiao pouted, “I’m going to be with Daddy for life, never leaving his side!”
Naturally, Lin Nan adored Lin Xiao and spoiled her, saying, “Alright, alright, even mischievousness has its limits. Daddy has work to do first, we can play later.”
Lin Xiao, acknowledging that her father was busy, decided to stop bothering him and obediently left the study.
Once the door and windows were shut, Lin Nan pulled out his phone.
There was a new message from Shiyuan. “Teacher Lin, could we meet in the next couple of days? There are some things that might be awkward to discuss over the phone.”
Lin Nan pondered for a moment and finally replied with a simple “Okay.”
It had been almost two or three months since they last met at the café, and Shiyuan reaching out today likely meant he had made some progress on whatever he was investigating.
He was also quite curious about what had happened with Shiyuan’s sister.
As a writer, maintaining a sense of awe and curiosity about everything had become second nature, coursing through his veins like a stubborn tick.
Before long, Shiyuan sent details about when and where to meet, somewhere not too far from home, about a 15-minute walk away.
After dinner, Lin Nan made an excuse to go take a walk and left the house.
In a private room of a tea restaurant on a bustling street, the two met once more.
Compared to their last meeting, Lin Nan noticed that Shiyuan seemed to be in much better spirits and no longer had that bashful tendency to look down at the ground every time he spoke.
“Sorry to disturb you so late, Teacher Lin.”
“Cut the pleasantries. So, what’s the latest development?” Lin Nan asked.
In a hushed tone, Shiyuan replied, “After my recent investigation, I discovered that while the Inquiry Game Company has been defunct for several years, one core member seems to have been on the run and hasn’t been caught.
Back when the court ruled on the case, the sentences were heavy—everyone involved got at least ten years, and the mastermind who slipped hallucinogens into the nutritional solution received a life sentence.
However, a programmer named Duan Mu, for some reason, has never been apprehended. When the servers were raided, two machines containing core data were also missing.
To keep the public from panicking, none of this was released to the media. The police have ramped up online patrols—if those two machines connect to the net, they’ll be instantly exposed.
But the surprising thing is that Duan Mu and those two servers have practically vanished, like they were swallowed by the earth.
Some folks speculate that he might have given up and committed s*icide somewhere remote.
However, since dead men tell no tales (or wherever they disappear to), the task force assigned to the Inquiry case has failed to find any leads on Duan Mu for years.”
Lin Nan raised an eyebrow, “So you suspect Duan Mu isn’t just a missing person?”
“Exactly. Who knows? That cursed game might still be lurking around the planet, operating on a local network somewhere.”
While saying this, Shiyuan had his gaze fixed on Lin Nan, making him want to avert his eyes to avoid that intense stare from someone almost twenty years his junior.
What was going on? Here he was, a renowned author, unable to handle the scrutiny of a younger guy.
“So, what’s the point of telling me all this? We aren’t detectives.
Even if we’re both curious, the police have been stumped on this case for a decade. What makes us think we can do any better?”
Shiyuan nodded, “You’re right. Tracking down Duan Mu is like finding a needle in a haystack. Without solid clues, we’ll be hard-pressed to make any progress.”
Lin Nan shrugged, “Well, I’m glad you shared this story, but I’m sorry I can’t offer much help. Although, if you need funds for your operations, I can chip in a little—consider it a favor for your obsession with the… um, Cold Moon Witch.”
Shiyuan replied, “You really don’t need to feel obligated. I brought this up because I thought you’d understand my feelings better than anyone else in the world.
It’s not a plea for help.
After all, the one who disappeared in the Game Pod is the one I hold dear, my favorite sister.
I want to rescue her, and even if there’s just a sliver of hope, I’ll keep searching.”
As he spoke, Lin Nan noticed his eyes glimmering with unshed tears.
Men don’t cry easily; just not quite at the level of heartbreak yet.
Lin Nan sighed and handed him a tissue.
“I get what you’re feeling. I was once trapped in a game too, which made my parents age overnight with worry.
I’ll think of a way to help you—maybe I can assist you a bit.”
Shiyuan quickly waved his hands, “No, really, there’s no need! I think you’re the only one who could listen to me vent. Just saying it has already lifted a huge weight off my shoulders.”
“Alright, how to proceed is my business. You don’t need to worry about that. If there are any updates on your end, make sure to reach out.”
“Thank you, Teacher Lin.”
After parting ways with Shiyuan, Lin Nan strolled back home under the night sky.
Little did he know, he bumped into the eagerly awaiting Wang Xue halfway.
“It’s so late! What are you doing out?”
“Just worried about you!”
“Come on, I’m a big guy. What’s there to worry about? You’re the one who’s got me concerned!”
Hand in hand, they meandered back, reminiscent of their early dating days.
“I saw you were out for a long time today, so I thought I’d check in.”
“Oh right, I was deep in thought over the plot and completely lost track of time.”
Wang Xue didn’t press further; instead, she leaned her head against Lin Nan’s shoulder, and they shared a laugh on their way home.
While Lin Nan was in the shower, Wang Xue’s demeanor suddenly shifted.
She pulled out her phone and opened a remarkably clear video.
It showed Lin Nan leaving the tea restaurant with a serious expression before a young man followed shortly after.
Wang Xue hit pause and zoomed in on the frame.
After a moment, she opened a photo of Lin Nan sitting across from someone in a café.
If she wasn’t mistaken, those two people looked a lot like the same individual.
Wang Xue’s expression turned icy, her knuckles whitening as she clenched her fists.
“Sweetheart, I’m done showering! Can you grab me some clothes?”
“Sure, I’m on it.”
Instantly, Wang Xue’s frosty demeanor melted away, replaced with a warm, gentle smile.
